[training mingle] Let's get down the business!

[traumaticus]

Who: Everyone out there!
Where: Outskirts of the Aldrip - Training Grounds
What: It's time for the Boot(y) Camp! The Chosen of Aldrip have all been invited to train, learn and spar!
Warnings: Other than the general violence? TBA..!



It is early morning on the 9th of September. The sun is shining, the air is fresh and nicely brisk, which means that it is just perfect time for Aldrip's first ever group training! How did you find your way there? Who knows! Maybe you were one of the people who saw the original announcement on the network, or noticed posters about it around Adlrip. Or maybe you were brought here by friendly white boar. Well, whatever the reason is what matters is that you are here. Welcome.

The empty field near the outskirts of the City has been transformed into a makeshift training camp. There are couple of tents set up around the camp. Some of them work as rather simplified armories containing pretty limited amount of blades, axes, armors, firearms, bows and arrows and what have you. Feel free to pick your poison, so to speak, but be sure to return what you borrow. Richard is keeping an eye on the weapons and will notice if something goes missing. Of course, characters are more than welcomed to use their own weapons and armors etc. Other tents are for resting, ER practice and dining. The lunch is sponsored by the Sandwich Hut.

The official training areas and their respective teachers/staff are the following:

Spiritual training/magic: Kurama, Douman, Kakashi
First-aid: Ethlyn, Morph, Bones
Rescue training: Morph, Bones
Hand-to-hand combat: Jirk Jim & Spock, Kakashi
Tech support: Jirk Jim & Spock
Fire arms: Caitlyn, Levi
Swords & Melee: Richard, Hiei
Archery: Richard
Survival skills: Richard, Kurama
Military training: Jim & Spock, Miller, Richard
Endurance training: Bones
Lunch: Junpei (and Whitey the Albino Boar)

If there is an activity a character would like to do that isn't included in the list that's no problem. Feel free to create your own top-level with said activity or you know! Just the usual stuff that varies from silly hang-out to whatever your heart desires.

Also for references sake: here is the OG ooc info post about regarding the mingle

Comments

Jim Kirk | OPEN

[finalfrontiersman]

[ Hand-to-hand combat is one of the tentpole events of this entire training event; Jim would probably hazard a guess and say it's neck and neck with the first-aid and emergency rescue sessions, though frankly, he's been too busy to verify that himself. Everyone's skill level varies, and sometimes people's abilities need to be factored into the sparring partnerships (which is incredibly interesting, actually, especially each time Jim learns something new) - but generally, they've been able to balance out the groups.

Jim himself has been stepping in as a sparring partner where he can, or as a target, when he holds up the practice mitt and encourages people to go ham on it. Whether you're in the beginner, intermediate, or advanced lesson, Jim's advice applies to all: ]

Good work! Remember to stay on the balls of your feet; you can move quicker and your gravity is centered. Alright, try that one again, you've got it!

[bulleting]

[Caitlyn is not a hand to hand fighter. She's a marksman. A sharpshooter. She's used to be at a good distance from the fray. But given her time in Aldrip, she's realized that while it's good to have one strength, she'd be better off broadening her horizons.

She's learned a little about martial arts, thanks to Toph. Even if Caitlyn couldn't earthbend, Toph still taught her the stances and movements to help her connect with her power. While they aren't necessary for her to use her powers, it still helped Caitlyn focus and channel her "metalbending", as Toph called it.

But she couldn't always rely on that, or her shooting skills. So, when she wasn't manning her own station and teaching gun usage and safety to people, she moved from station to station, trying to learn something, even if it was just basic knowledge.

Vi would be proud, to see her masterfully wrap her hands (seriously, she's watched the other woman do just that so many times) and get into a fighting stance. She remembers what Toph has taught her, but she also thinks of the times she's watched Vi fight, how she carries herself as she moves and punches. Then again, Vi thinks more with her fists sometimes, so maybe she isn't the best to replicate while fighting.

Still, she throws her punch into the practice mitt on Jim's hand, listening to his advice. Stay light on her feet. That's the opposite of what she's learned from Toph, but she can shift. It was okay to know more than one way to go about something.]

[finalfrontiersman]

[ Hand to hand fighter or not, what Caitlyn is is a good student. She picks things up quick - from chess to modified MMA, she takes everything in with thought and poise, and rarely does Jim have to remind her of the basics. She's spoiling him as a teacher, really, because it means they can get to the fun stuff quicker.

What Toph had taught her about firm, grounded stances and movements - well, it wasn't wrong, and besides, Jim would never presume to say so (the teenager can bend metal with her mind, what the hell does he know?) It is, however, not conducive to a regular, no-powers fist fight. Especially not for a young woman, which is meant as a practical statement - Caitlyn is tall, it's true, but she's still slighter than Jim, were someone of his stature to come at her. The best advantage in that circumstance is to use her opponent's momentum against them - to be quick, light, and to strike hard and fast.

Jim grins, nodding as Caitlyn throws the punch into the mitt - she had the form of her fist down pat by this point, which is honestly step one. Can't be throwing punches when you might accidentally break your hand, instead. ] Nice! Keep your mass low, remember what we talked about with dodging? Most fights get to the floor in 45 seconds or less. Don't let them take you there. You put them on their ass.

[ Then, because they've been doing this for about 45 minutes and he's pretty sure she's ready - Jim swipes at her unexpectedly with the mitt. If it hits, it won't hurt - it's a glove, after all, and he's moving fast, not hard - but if she's as alert as she should be, Jim has confidence she'll dodge and punch right back. ]

[bulleting]

[It helps to have a good teacher, too. Jim has a very different teaching style from Toph, though. Don't get her wrong, she loved Toph and owed her a lot, but like the stone she moved, she was very strongwilled and opinionated. Which wasn't wrong or bad, it worked for what she was teaching, but Caitlyn would be lying if she said it wasn't nice to have a break from such a tough coach.

That didn't mean she was going to slack off or take advantage of the moment, either. She was here to learn. What good would it do to not push herself when what she learned here could be the difference between life and death in a place like this?]

I do-- have the advantage-- of being -- tall. [She speaks between punches, a smirk on her face. Being six foot as a woman definitely gave her some advantages. She was taller than some men, even, so most would be hard pressed to actually get one up over her. Then again, Vi was five inches shorter, and Caitlyn wouldn't dare get into an actual fist fight with her.

While she wasn't exactly expecting Jim to make a sudden move, she was ready for anything. After training with Toph for so long, she was used to expecting the unexpected. It's not the most graceful of dodges, but she does stumble back a bit to avoid contact with his mitt.]

Switching me to defensive already?

[finalfrontiersman]

[ Aw, he'd be flattered. Jim's learned a lot over the tenure of his command, and while there is something to be said for learning all the rules before you break them - Jim also knows how to play to people's strengths. How to motivate and encourage; how to recognize when someone needs the tough love, and equally as importantly, when they don't. That's not to say he always hits the nail on the head - he's human, he reads things wrong, he lets his own opinions get in the way on occasion - but he tries. ]

You do. [ Jim smirks right back, raising an eyebrow playfully. ] Doesn't mean I can't knock you on your ass.

[ Is it a challenge? A cocksure promise? Jim's fighting style is about as predictable as his chess style, which is to say: distract and surprise.

She stumbles, and Jim presses the advantage with a follow-up swipe of the mitt; even if he hasn't made contact with Caitlyn managing to dodge, this at least serves the purpose of illustrating how being fast can put someone on the run, even if you're not making contact. ]

Mixing it up. [ Jim pulls back after the second swipe, letting Caitlyn have space to reset. ] The point of this kind of fighting is to get in and out quick. If you want me to teach you how to beat the shit out of someone, that's a different lesson. This is all about how to put them down fast and get away - you should only be on the defensive long enough to pivot it back to putting them down.

[bulleting]

I'm sure you could. Quite easily, if you tried. [She barely knows what she's doing here. He made her stumble without much effort. His experience in this area far exceeds her own, after all. If this was a shooting match, she'd be wiping the smirk off his face, but since this is his area, she has to concede that she isn't going to win, as annoying as that might be.

At least when Jim made his next attempt, she was way more prepared. She sees the second swipe coming, and does what he's been teaching her. She stays light on her feet, dodging to the right and taking the opening to match him with her own swing at him. She's careful, at least, not to throw a punch hard enough to hurt him if it does make contact with anything, since she wasn't exactly aiming for the mitt.]

Vi would be furious if I let anyone but her teach me that. [She appreciates the reprieve to gather herself, and she can't help but laugh.]

I like keeping my distance, so this is good. Knock them down, get to my gun, and I'm set.

[finalfrontiersman]

Oh, I think you could give me a run for my credits. [ Jim's definitely not going to underestimate her. This is kind of fun! It's been a while since he's had a decent spar, even if that's not really what they're doing - yet. Just like chess, Jim has no doubt Caitlyn will prove formidable in no time.

As for a shooting match - sign him up. He's got some marksmanship training, but that's just with phasers and phaser rifles. Translating that to an actual gun - his aim will probably be decent, but he won't be at all prepared for the kickback.

Caitlyn executes the dodge flawlessly, throwing a punch from the open side Jim's left. He absorbs it with a turn of his shoulder, letting it smart against his chest - his feet are planted, so while it's strong enough to rock him on his feet, she also pulled it enough that he's not falling over. ] Good! That was perfect.

Fair enough. She does know how to pack a punch. [ Jim would know, he'd been on the (rightful) receiving end. Spock had gotten it worse, though. Yes, he's still embarrassed about it, but he's trying to own it. ] I think you've got the distance basics down. Want to try some close combat?

[bulleting]

With a gun or my metalbending? Of course. But hand to hand will always be Vi's specialty. [She's adapted to Toph's name for her power. Given Toph's been the one that's taught her control over the last several months, it only seems fitting to call it what her teacher does, especially when she mimics those techniques.

She knows Jim and Spock got a first hand look at Vi's fighting style, too, so he knows exactly what she means. And there was a good chance Vi was holding back, compared to when she beat the living shit out of Sevika back home.

She's proud when she hits her mark, and even after she's pulled back, she's quick to grab his arm to make sure he doesn't fall over and stays steady. There's worry in her voice, but also amusement, that she was successful in her maneuver.]

Sorry! Sorry-- I wasn't sure where to aim that wouldn't hurt. [Still! She did it! Just as he had taught!]

That wasn't close combat? [This is extremely close to her, considering she's used to long range.]

[finalfrontiersman]

Your hand to hand. But definitely with your gun and especially your metalbending. [ Jim's not a bad marksman, though he's no specialist and he doubts he comes close to Caitlyn's level of training. Metalbending - shit, he's got zero defenses against something like that. ] My experience only matters for so long. If you're fast enough to wear out my endurance, or catch me at the right time, you can turn the tide of a fight regardless.

[ Vi would definitely be an interesting spar, when he's in his right mind and not already half-dead. Jim's a little too embarrassed to ask her though, after everything. Maybe one day, if the opportunity presents itself? ]

No, no, that was good! [ Jim beams, definitely pleased with her progress. If only all the training he's given today was as rewarding; but Caitlyn applies herself really well, which isn't surprising. He shakes his head and moves to take off the padded glove, pulling off the velcro to free his hand and cast it aside. ] It was closer combat than you're used to, but let's say someone manages to grab you. They come up on you from behind, or get your wrist, that kind of thing. This is about breaking holds and throwing someone on their ass.

[bulleting]

[Vi would seem the type to hold a grudge, but she's also incredibly understanding about the situation they've found themselves in. She didn't hold things against Jim and Spock when they had dinner, and she highly doubted it would be an issue in the future. Maybe she could talk Vi into joining them for future sparring lessons.]

I think I'm following. My shooting-- even my metalbending is useless if someone grabs my wrists. [Can't shoot without aiming, and while she's still learning to control with just her feet like Toph can, she needs her hands to guide with that too. Controlling her hands would mean controlling her, so it's definitely something to learn how to break.]

Being able to throw someone on their ass does sound like a useful skill. [And being able to do it without magic is just as important. Her magic is only as powerful as she is without using it. Is it wrong that part of her wants to learn this, just to show off and flip Vi?]

[finalfrontiersman]

[ Ah, the dinner. Awkward, but bearable. The two of them were more bothered about it than Vi appeared to be, anyway, so at least that was something. Maybe if they could get a club going - Jim had practiced with Claude on occasion, but having a more regular thing would benefit all of them. On the ship, he'd spar with Spock - they hadn't done so much here, but then, Jim had been a little lax with a lot of his usual training - there was just so much else that needed doing.

Jim nods, taking a step closer as they face each other. He takes Caitlyn's hand and rests it on his forearm, prepping to demonstrate. ] Exactly. Your weapons are only useful if the current engagement supports them. As soon as that changes, you have to pivot to whatever you have available.

If the options are pulling hair, poking eyes - that's what you go for. [ Jim's been in plenty of very undignified fights. Sometimes you had to fight dirty if you wanted to avoid getting crushed. ] Here, grab my arm here, okay?

[ Once Caitlyn has a decent hold, Jim slowly twists his arm - enough that she can see the movement, the way he's turning his wrist to the inside in order to escape the hold. ] You have more strength in the whole arm than the person grabbing you has in their grip, see?

[ The move ends with Jim being the one grabbing onto her, and he tugs lightly to demonstrate. ] I know it feels counter-intuitive, but it's best to pull them forward after something like that. Use their body weight against them - someone who's grabbing at you is leaning forward, and it'll throw them off balance. Your turn.